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 Churches Seek to Help Homeless Displaced by Floods

Morality Issues Prayer-Soldier writes "On 23 Jun 10, the Catholic News Service reported that floods in the region of Nashville, TN, have displaced tent cities for the homeless. The report related that the Catholic Worker Community, Amos House Community, have been seeking to help the displaced homeless.

The article noted that the homeless had been living in what was known as Tent City in downtown Nashville. Tent City was flooded out by the May 2010 floods. The homeless relocated to private property in Antioch, a suburb of Nashville, however, because the Tent City relocation did not have proper code approval, it “has faced fierce opposition from Antioch residents.” The article continued, “With little support from local government to get a zoning variance to allow camping on the property, Tent City residents have been informed that they must vacate the area by July 5.”
According to a 27 May 10, News Channel 5 report, “Nashville businessman Lee Beaman said he leased two acres of his property off Cane Ridge Road to his Brentwood church, the Otter Creek Church of Christ.”

The article quoted Beaman as saying, “I just saw this as an opportunity to help another group of people who needed help." He continued, "I'm kind of disappointed that people are getting a little upset over temporary housing for people who are pretty desperate."
According to the report, “Beaman's church has partnered with several other churches, including the Amos House.” The report quoted Jeannie Alexander of the Amos House, who said, "This was not the area we were looking at." She said, "This is purely by default. We had no where else to go. They're just like you and me. They just want some security, a safe place to sleep." The report noted that one resident of the Tent City pointed out that it is temporary shelter until a job can be found.

A 4 Jun 10, Nashville Public Radio article related, “Some Antioch residents are upset they were never included in the decision to relocate a homeless camp to their neighborhood.” It noted that several Antioch residents vented their frustration at a three-hour town hall meeting.”

The reported quoted Beaman, in an apology to the crowed, as saying, “It didn’t even occur to me that it could be a violation of any codes and I thought it won’t be any harm for them to be camped on some property.”

The Nashvill Public Radio report tersely noted the results of the discourse. The report concluded, “The camp is a violation of codes. The city has notified Beaman that residents must be gone by July 5. He promised to comply with that order.”

In a 19 Jun 10, Amos House Community blog, Jeannie Alexander characterized the residents of the original Tent City as a “cooperative group who sought solace in their life together—lives free from drugs and focused on hard work at car washes and temporary day labor agencies. Lives of determination applying day in and day out for one job and then another.”

The blog also pointed out that had the flood not displace the Tent City, the City was already about to. Alexander wrote, “But these good residents of what we came to know as the TA Camp committed a crime so severe that they were banished, their community was broken apart, and their carefully constructed homes would have been demolished by public works if the river had not taken their camp mere days before it was set to be razed. You see, these good people, your neighbors, who cleaned up a blighted area of Nashville and made an unwanted invisible area of downtown home, committed the terrible, unforgivable trespass of being visible.”

Alexander further explained, “The embarrassment that the camp engendered was a dangerous embarrassment, for it was not caused by the moral shame that one should feel when confronted with the knowledge that a city of such wealth and possibility would allow some of its citizens to live in tents and bamboo dwellings because, despite working hard both day and night, they were denied a living wage.”

Alexander related her belief as to the reasons complaints were registered to the District Attorney, “These complaints were filed not because the residents were a menace, and certainly not because they were concerned about the camp generating trash (the camp was spotless), and not because there were loud parties or fights, and not because members of the camp ever threatened or intimidated those who parked in the LP Field parking lot. They filed complaints simply because they did not like to look at the camp as they walked overhead on the bridges on their way to the office.”

Alexander pondered the result and wondered at the boundaries of how the less fortunate are treated. Alexander wrote, “My God, what hellish power some wield to destroy lives and homes because they do not like what they see. I wonder, could I drive through your neighborhood and decide that your mere existence was an affront to my sense of well being, and, deciding that I really did not like the look of you and your neighbor’s house, call Commander Huggins at the Central Precinct and have your homes razed in thirty days?”

Alexander's story relates the plight of the poor and for whatever circumstances, the less fortunate. Despite the differences of ideology and theology, Alexander notes the real challenge is that as a society, “we do not treat the causes of illness, only the symptoms.” If we respond as Jesus tried to teach us, a true difference could be made. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40.

As Alexander writes, she points out that the flood may have presented a lesson well beyond the battle of the Tent City residents. She noted the flood impacted both the rich and the poor. As noted in a 26 May 10, Nashville Rescue Mission post, “Now, some families who have never experienced homelessness have a glimpse at what life is like for those who struggle without homes all day, every day. Never knowing where their next meal will come from. Not having their own bed or own room for that matter to sleep in each night.”

As noted in a 3 Jun 10, Guardian Angel Store news summary, Christian charities, such as Catholic Charities are not seeing the usual generosity of Americans in response to the recent disasters of the Nashville floods and the Gulf Coast Oil Spill. There is much speculation as to the cause, for example, the way the events were reported in the media. As natural disasters and societal ills mount, organizations such as Catholic Charities, the Amos House Community Mercy Fund, the Nashville Rescue Mission and other Christian charities need volunteers and donations through which to continue their Christian work.

“The argument of political philosophy or ideology only stirs unintentional consequences of well intended solutions. Our belief that government will solve the problems of our society is misguided, for it only nibbles at the symptoms of plight and despair and is often corrupted by less than moral motives. It takes many hands for all within society to thrive. It is the charity of the Christian heart to which we must call to help obtain relief of those who suffer misfortune. We cannot solve the ills of the world by ourselves, but when we do not know what to do, if we ask God, He will guide us how to use the gifts He has granted us. It is a combination of Christian faith and works through which all may receive care and through which all may be blessed.” - Prayer Soldier

Cited Articles and Posts

Catholic News Service (23 Jun 10)
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1002605.htm

News Channel 5 (27 May 10)
http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=12557270

Nashville Public Radio (4 Jun 10)
http://wpln.org/?p=18255

Amos House Community Blog (19 Jun 10)
http://amoshouse.wordpress.com/

Nashville Rescue Mission (26 May 10)
http://www.nashvillerescuemission.org/archive.asp?SID=1&ca_key=3&co_key=267

Guardian Angel Store (3 Jun 10)
"

Posted on Friday, June 25 @ 11:32:09 MDT by admin


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